Railroad car end corner construction

ABSTRACT

The railroad car sides and ends are fabricated from lightweight metal such as aluminum. The disclosure relates to the bottom corner connection between the sidewall and the end wall in a railroad car. A side sill extends the length of the car. Connected to the end of the sill is a gusset plate which projects beyond the end of the sill. The gusset plate includes a plate or platform which projects substantially transverse of the railroad car. A corner post formed of a plurality of separate structural members rests on the plate with the structural members being interconnected to form a composite corner post. The corner post includes a flange which extends inwardly of the car past the end of the side sill and is connected to the vertical edge of the end wall. A portion of the corner post is spaced outwardly from the side sill so that the rivets employed in interconnecting the structural members forming the corner post do not project into the interior of the car. All of the component parts of the corner construction herein involve either substantially flat sheets or extruded shapes requiring virtually no cutting or coping to subassemble and assemble.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Carl E. Johansson South Euclid, Ohio [21] Appl. No. 599,819

[22} Filed Dec. 7, 1966 [45] Patented Jan. 26,1971

[73] Assignee The Youngstown Steel Door Company Cleveland, Ohio a corporation of Ohio [54] RAILROAD CAR END CORNER CONSTRUCTION 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

521 U.S.Cl 105/409 51 1m.c| B6lfl/l0 50 Field ofSearch 105/404,

Primary ExaminerArthur L. La Point Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch Atz0rneyFay, Sharpe and Mulholland ABSTRACT: The railroad car sides and ends are fabricated from lightweight metal such as aluminum. The disclosure relates to the bottom corner connection between the sidewall and the end wall in a railroad car. A side sill extends the length of the car. Connected to the end of the sill is a gusset plate which projects beyond the end of the sill. The gusset plate includes a plate or platform which projects substantially transverse of the railroad car. A corner post formed of a plurality of separate structural members rests on the plate with the structural members being interconnected to form a composite corner post. The corner post includes a flange which extends inwardly of the car past the end of the side sill and is connected to the vertical edge of the end wall. A portion of the corner post is spaced outwardly from the side sill so that the rivets employed in interconnecting the structural members forming the corner post do not project into the interior of the car. All of the component parts of the corner construction herein involve either substantially flat sheets or extruded shapes requiring virtually no cutting or coping to subassemble and assemble.

PATENTEUJANZGIBYI 3557.715 v SHEEIUF 3 INVENTOR. CA RL E. JOHANSSON W ATTORNEYS PATENIEU mes men SHEEI 3 [1F 3 n INVENTOR. CARL E. JOHANSSON ATTORNEYS RAILROAD CAR END CORNER CONSTRUCTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to railroad cars and more particularly to the corner construction connecting the lower end of the sidewall to the end wall of the car and it is specifically directed to a construction employing a lightweight material such as aluminum.

The use of aluminum in railroad cars has the obvious advantage of reducing the car weight which thereby permits either a greater payload or the use of additional special equipment to protect the lading without increasing the overall weight of the car. Aluminum, however, poses problems of fabrication which are distinct from the problems incurred in building railroad cars and doors from conventional materials such as steel. Consequently, the use of aluminum in railroad cars has typically been in piece meal fashion with various components of the car being converted from steel to aluminum. For example, aluminum car doors are now being used and other aluminum components which can be used in a railroad car such as railroad car ends are available.

Aluminum and other similar lightweight metals often are fabricated by means of extruding. Since only certain shapes can be extruded readily, the type and shape of structures which can be used in a railroad car are somewhat restricted. Moreover, because of the nature of aluminum and other lightweight metals it is desirable that each component be extruded to as nearly as possible the final shape desired, thereby eliminating undesirable cutting or coping operations.

This invention proposes an aluminum structure for a railroad car which includes the use of aluminum in connecting the aluminum side sill with the aluminum sidewall and the aluminum end wall. More particularly, the comer construction of this invention permits the subassembly and assembly of the various components with a minimum of cutting or coping operations. Specifically the invention contemplates an all aluminum construction including a side sill extending substantially the entire length of the car and side sheathing secured at its lower end to the side sill. A sill gusset is secured to the end of the side sill with a portion of the gusset projecting beyond the end of the sill. A transversely extending plate or platform is secured to the sill gusset. Resting on the gusset platform is a comer post formed of a plurality of structural elements. The comer post is substantially box-shaped in cross section and includes flanges or legs projecting therefrom. One such flange or leg projects inwardly of the railroad car past the end of the side sill and is coplanar with the end wall. This leg is secured along the vertical edge of the end wall and provides the connection between the end wall and the corner post. The comer post is spaced from the side sill so that the rivets employed in interconnecting the components of the corner post do not project into the interior of the railroad car. The corner post is connected to the side sill by a spacing plate carried on the sill. The comer post further includes a second flange or leg which is connected to the vertical edge of the sidewall thereby connecting the sidewall to the corner post.

Other objects and features will become more apparent in the description of the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like parts in the various views.

FIG. I is a side elevation of a portion of a railroad car showing the end comer of the car.

FIG. 2 is a partial side elevation of the lower comer of the car of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a plan view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. I illustrates a portion of a railway car sidewall indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. The sidewall includes a sideplate ll, sidewall sheathing 12, a side sill 13, side posts 14 and a comer construction indicated generally by the reference numeral 15. All of the components of this construction are fabricated from a lightweight metal such as aluminum. The sidewall sheathing 12 comprises a single sheet of metal which extends from the comer post 15 to the door opening in the railway car sidewall with the side posts 14 being secured to the outer surface of the sheet 12. The sheathing I2 is secured at its upper end to the sideplate 11 and its lower end to the side sill 13 with the side posts 14 extending vertically between the side sill and the sideplate. As viewed in FIG. 6, the side sill I3 is generally channel shaped in configuration with the upper leg 17 of the channel extending inwardly of the car and providing a support for the flooring 18. The sill 13 further includes an upwardly directed extension 19 to which the lower edge of the sheathing 12 is secured as by welds.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is attached to the side sill 13 as by rivets 20 a sill gusset 21. This gusset 21 is substantially a flat plate which extends beyond the end of the sill 13. A flat plate or platform 22 is secured to the outer face of the gusset 21 and comprises a platform which extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the sill l3. Supports 23 assist in supporting the plate or platform 22 on the gusset 21.

The corner post 15 extends between the sideplate l1 and the sill 13 with the lower end of the post is resting on the plate 22. The corner post is fabricated from a plurality of extruded shapes which are best viewed in FIG. 5. Thus, a first structural member comprising a side corner post 30 is provided. This post is substantially T-shaped in cross section with one am of the T offset from the plane of the other arm. Thus, the first arm 31 is coplanar and coextensive with the sidewall 12 with the free end of the arm 31 secured along the vertical edge to the wall 12. The other arm 32 is displaced outwardly of the car from the plane of the arm 31. The leg 33 of the side corner post 30 extends transversely of the plane of the arms 31 and 32.

The second structural member comprising the comer post 15 is indicated generally by the reference numeral 40 and consists of a substantially flat plate which overlaps at one end 41 the arm 32 on post 30. The end comer post 40 further includes a pair of transverse, oppositely directed arms 42 and 43. The arm or extension 42 extends inwardly of the railroad car beyond the end of the side sill 13 with the free end of the arm 42 being secured to the vertical edge of the end wall 44.

The end corner post 40 rests at its lower end on the upper surface of the plate or platform 22. The lower end of the side comer post 30 terminates at a point coextensive with the lower edge of the sidewall sheathing 12 which is immediately adjacent to the upper edge of the side sill 13. The overlapping portions of the side post 30 and end post 40 are secured by rivets 46. It is to be noted that the overlapping portions of arm 32 and corner post 40 are offset outwardly of the railroad car so that the inner end of rivets 46 do not extend to the interior of the car.

The lower end of end corner post 40 is secured by a rivet 47 to the side sill 13. Since the plane of post 40 is spaced outwardly of the car, a spacing plate 48 is interposed between the inner surface of the post 40 and the outer surface of the side sill 13 so that the connection between the post and sill may be effected.

The arm 33 on the side comer post 30 and the arm 43 on the end comer post 40 are substantially coextensive with oppositely directed coplanar projections 50, 51 on each respectively. A plate 52 is received between the two arms 33 and 43 with the plate resting against the projections 50, 51 and secured by welds thereto thereby forming a substantially rectangular box-shaped cross section for the corner post. Since the side corner post 30 terminates above the platform 22 on which the end corner post 40 rests, a flat plate 55 is placed beneath the post 30 and rests at its lower end on the platform 22.

The plate 55 is substantially coplanar with the leg 33 on post 30 and provides a surface against which the lower end of plate 52 may be welded, as shown in FIG. 4. The inner end of the plate 55 is secured by welds 56 to the side sill 13.

The end wall 44 further includes an angle member or end sill S7 at its lower edge and to which the wall is secured by rivets 58. The angle member includes an inwardly directed leg 59 which has an upper surface substantially coextensive with the upper surface on the leg 17 of the sill channel 13, thereby providing a continuous supporting surface along the length of the end wall on which the flooring 18 may rest. It is contemplated that the angle 57 would be secured at each end to the legs 17 of the sills on both sides of the car.

I claim:

1. In a railroad car having a sidewall, an end wall, a side sill secured to the lower edge of said sidewall along the length thereof and a comer post interconnecting the adjacent edges of said side and end walls, the improvement comprising:

plate means secured to the end of said side sill;

said plate means having a substantially horizontal supporting surface thereon;

the lower end of said corner post resting on said surface;

and

means interconnecting said end of said corner post to said plate means. I

2. In a railroad car having a sidewall, an end wall, a side sill secured to the lower edge of said sidewall along the length thereof, and a comer post interconnecting the adjacent edges of said side and end walls, the improvement comprising:

plate means secured to the ends of said side sill;

said plate means having a substantially horizontal supporting surface thereon;

said corner post including a side corner post secured to said sidewall and an end corner post secured to said end wall with a portion of said side post being in interconnected engagement with a portion of said end post with said side corner post spaced above said supporting surface;

the lower end of said end corner post resting on said supporting surface; and

means interconnecting said lower end of said end corner post with said side sill.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein'said engaged portions of said posts are offset outwardly from the plane of said sidewall.

4. The combination of claim 2 and including a plate resting at its lower end on said support surface with the upper end of said plate contiguous to the lower end of said side corner post, said plate being secured to said sill and said plate means.

5. The combination of claim 2 wherein said side corner post includes a leg projecting outwardly of said car;

said end comer post including a leg projecting outwardly of said car with said latter leg being spaced longitudinally of the car from said leg on said corner post;

a vertically extending plate resting at its lower end on said support surface;

said plate being substantially coplanar with said leg on said side post with the upper end of said plate abutting the lower end of said leg; and

a comer plate extending between said legs and secured thereto, said corner plate extending to said support sur- 5 face with said plate secured to said corner plate below said leg on said side post.

6. In a railroad car having a sidewall, an end wall. a side sill secured to the lower edge of said sidewall along the length thereof and a comer post interconnecting the adjacent edges ID of said side and end walls, the improvement comprising:

plate means secured to the end of said side sill;

said plate means having a substantially horizontal supporting surface thereon which extends beyond the end of said sill;

a portion of said corner post projecting inward of said car past said end of said sill;

said end wall being secured to said portion of said post;

the lower end of said comer post resting on said surface;

and

means interconnecting said end of said corner post to said late means. 7. n a railroad car having a sidewall, an end wall, a side sill secured to the lower edge of said sidewall along the length thereof and a corner post interconnecting the adjacent edges of said side and end walls, the improvement comprising:

plate means secured to the end of said side sill;

said plate means having a substantially horizontal supporting surface thereon;

said corner post having a first portion coplanar with said sill and secured to said sidewall;

said corner post further including a second portion spaced outwardly of the plane of said sidewall with said latter portion resting on said support surface; and

means interconnecting said latter portion of said corner post to said plate means.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said corner post includes a further portion extending inward of said car past the end of said sill with said end wall connected to said further portion.

9. In a railroad car having a sidewall, an end wall, a side sill secured to the lower edge of said sidewall along the length thereof and a comer post interconnecting the adjacent edges of said side and end walls, the improvement comprising:

plate means secured to the end of said side sill;

said plate means having a substantially horizontal supporting surface thereon;

a side corner post member secured to said sidewall;

an end corner post member secured to said end wall;

a portion of said side post member being in engagement with a portion of said end post member; and

means interconnecting said engaged portions of said members to define said corner post. 

1. In a railroad car having a sidewall, an end wall, a side sill secured to the lower edge of said sidewall along the length thereof and a corner post interconnecting the adjacent edges of said side and end walls, the improvement comprising: plate means secured to the end of said side sill; said plate means having a substantially horizontal supporting surface thereon; the lower end of said corner post resting on said surface; and means interconnecting said end of said corner post to said plate means.
 2. In a railroad car having a sidewall, an end wall, a side sill secured to the lower edge of said sidewall along the length thereof, and a corner post interconnecting the adjacent edges of said side and end walls, the improvement comprising: plate means secured to the ends of said side sill; said plate means having a substantially horizontal supporting surface thereon; said corner post including a side corner post secured to said sidewall and an end corner post secured to said end wall with a portion of said side post being in interconnected engagement with a portion of said end post with said side corner post spaced above said supporting surface; the lower end of said end corner post resting on said supporting surface; and means interconnecting said lower end of said end corner Post with said side sill.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said engaged portions of said posts are offset outwardly from the plane of said sidewall.
 4. The combination of claim 2 and including a plate resting at its lower end on said support surface with the upper end of said plate contiguous to the lower end of said side corner post, said plate being secured to said sill and said plate means.
 5. The combination of claim 2 wherein said side corner post includes a leg projecting outwardly of said car; said end corner post including a leg projecting outwardly of said car with said latter leg being spaced longitudinally of the car from said leg on said corner post; a vertically extending plate resting at its lower end on said support surface; said plate being substantially coplanar with said leg on said side post with the upper end of said plate abutting the lower end of said leg; and a corner plate extending between said legs and secured thereto, said corner plate extending to said support surface with said plate secured to said corner plate below said leg on said side post.
 6. In a railroad car having a sidewall, an end wall, a side sill secured to the lower edge of said sidewall along the length thereof and a corner post interconnecting the adjacent edges of said side and end walls, the improvement comprising: plate means secured to the end of said side sill; said plate means having a substantially horizontal supporting surface thereon which extends beyond the end of said sill; a portion of said corner post projecting inward of said car past said end of said sill; said end wall being secured to said portion of said post; the lower end of said corner post resting on said surface; and means interconnecting said end of said corner post to said plate means.
 7. In a railroad car having a sidewall, an end wall, a side sill secured to the lower edge of said sidewall along the length thereof and a corner post interconnecting the adjacent edges of said side and end walls, the improvement comprising: plate means secured to the end of said side sill; said plate means having a substantially horizontal supporting surface thereon; said corner post having a first portion coplanar with said sill and secured to said sidewall; said corner post further including a second portion spaced outwardly of the plane of said sidewall with said latter portion resting on said support surface; and means interconnecting said latter portion of said corner post to said plate means.
 8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said corner post includes a further portion extending inward of said car past the end of said sill with said end wall connected to said further portion.
 9. In a railroad car having a sidewall, an end wall, a side sill secured to the lower edge of said sidewall along the length thereof and a corner post interconnecting the adjacent edges of said side and end walls, the improvement comprising: plate means secured to the end of said side sill; said plate means having a substantially horizontal supporting surface thereon; a side corner post member secured to said sidewall; an end corner post member secured to said end wall; a portion of said side post member being in engagement with a portion of said end post member; and means interconnecting said engaged portions of said members to define said corner post. 